The Long Run 4 — Pluto

The Long Run takes place outside of our normal continuity of episodes, and features table discussion of an entire work or long selection of a series. In the fourth episode of this bonus series, we talk about Pluto, by Naoki Urasawa, adapted from the original story by Osamu Tezuka. Beginning in 2003, Pluto is a retelling/adaptation of a classic Astro Boy story called “The Greatest Robot on Earth.”

In Urasawa’s version, the story is told largely from the perspective of German detective robot Gesicht, as he struggles to solve the serial murders of the greatest fighting robots in the world, as well as a number of scientists, all of whom are connected to a war in Persia which happened a number of years prior.

Pluto is an incredibly well written and drawn series, and is an excellent introduction to the world of manga. It features compelling characters, mystery, and a heaping helping of action.